Method of removing diesel engine injector tubes



Feb.- 24, 1,959

. c. H. BENNETT METHOD OF Rmuovmc DIESEL ENGINE INJECTORTUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed March' 26 INVENTOR. Z/Ff0/?p H Bf/V/VfTT yfuel -is' injected into the combustion chan'ibe' V I of afu'el injector device which is mounted ifi the cyl'irt- United States Patent METPIOD on INJECTOR TUBES" minera '11.; Bennett; Jackson, J Mien; assiglioi td K'ent- 'Moore Organizationplnm, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan 7 I :7

Application March 26, 1954,:s'ena1 Nas mios" 4 Claims. (61:29-427) This invention relates" to a process of and apparatus for removing a diesel "engi-neinjector tube from the cylinder head of an engine. 7 Y In many of the modern diesel engine of=-"today,"-the der head of the engine; Aninjetorndzz'le, par't oft-he injector device,- -pens 'into the combustion chamber through a port' 'in the cylinder head.- Because the injector frequently extends acro'ss or "through a water cooling passageway in the cylinder head, it is necessary to "seal the water int-he passageway from contact with the injector and also prevent leakage or the water from the passageway down-along the injector and 'into'the conibilstion *charn'ber 'offthe enginei To prevent "such'l'eak- "a ge'of Water-into thecorn'bustion chamber around the injetfwl, where the injec tOl eil't is 'th-CdtlibliStiOIfChiil'i'lher, and use to prevent direct contact of the water with the injector, theinjec'to'r "is 'enca'sed'in'what' inay "be termedaninje'ctor'tube;

The tube is made-oi 'copper or someother malleable metal It"frequentlybecomes worn or damaged,- or loosens up from its seat' in the "cylinder head, permitting Water to leak, into the-combustion chaihber o f -tlie'en- 'ginefg" Injthis" eventthe'tube" must be replaced. Scale frequently "builds tip on thewv'alls of thetubebecause of the hardness of "the water being pumped through the engine: This"sc'a'l'e' revents-the tube"fro'm' Being readily rern'o'vfed fromthe cylinder 'hea'cl through 'thuse *ofconventiona'lniethods'and tools; p

Thetu'be is 'providedwith a fiangeatits upper end, which flange seats against a sealing' ririgdisposed 'on'th'e outside" surface ofthe" cylinder head. i The" tube V extends 'throughthe cylinder headext'ending across the water or eoolant passag'eway"inthe head,'and"t-he lower end, or tipof the "tube," extends through the combustion" chain be'risurfaceofthe' head. The-tubetip is flared "over against the combustion "chamber surface 'of the head to seal the'tubetipagainst thehead'and prevent the escape a of "'coo'l'ant 'froni" .the passa'geway' into the combustion chamberefth'engine' V I V .Th tube""r'nay"b'e *removedirom'fthe cylinder head eith'er' by cutting away completely the flared-over porti'olfof the tube tipand then. f rci'ng the tube u wardly 1 out offthei cylindfer head; or the tube maybe" driven upwardly ant forth-e head without intin away'the flaredov'e'r tip; relyin fon thern'alleabi'lityof the material of which'tl'ie' tube" is made to permit the flared-over portion to" give way diitiiig-fth upward ru ing of the tube. The

whic h themechanic drives in removing the was; maybe 'An object; o th inventiea is the provision are pros- '2? 'rremoving anin'jecto'r'tulie installed in afcylinder as'aforesaid, which includes the holding of" the o prevent rotation thereoi'in the' head,;threadii1g en gin'g means into the tube "-from'the upper en'dato e'ifg'a ge the tube, releasing the" ho1d= on'the tube sothalt it may move in the head, and then driving against-the enga ing means-to force the engaging-:means and' the tube upwardly out of the head; Another object of my. invention is "theprovision of three tools, cooperable to reniove an injector tube'fr'om the cylinder head of a diesel engine, whereinonetool is slightly tapered and adapted to he driven into the injectoitube tip to prevent rotation-of thetube in'tlie' cylin- Her head, and a second tool isadapted to be threadedly received in the-opposite "end of the-tube While the tube is held against rotation by-the first took-and athird toolis adapted to be inserted into the tube after-the first tool isrernoved, andtliereafter'the third tool driven against the second-tool to force the second tool and the tube out of the head.-

Another object of my invention is the provision of an injector tube holder adapted-to be inserted into the .tubeso that upon forcing of the tap outwardly of the cylinder head-the tube will be' witlidraw n with the tap. A' concomitant object is the provisionof a tap of this character provided with a pilot portion rece'ivablewithin the tube-ahead of the threaded flutes, and-which pilmensures proper axial ali-g'nrn'entof the' tap with the tube; t

A meritorious feature of the invention is the-provision or a tap ofthe aforementioned haracter wh'erein'the pilot portion is sh'aped'to provide'a plurality of'rearni-n'g teeth 'ada-pted to cut away the wall-s ot an inj'ect'or tube so that the tap will properly threadinto the til-hi Other objects, advantages and meritorious' 'features will become more fully apparent fron'i' the following specification, cl'ainhs; and drawings, wherein: I I

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder head showing' an installed injector tube with my pulling-tap and-tube holder inserted in the tube;'

Fig.2 is similar to Fig; 1, butthe injectoftub'e shown is a new injector tube which ,-'for"s'ome =reason,- ha not seated properly in the cylinder head and it-is de'si'retl to remove it and replace the same with another tube;

Fig: 3 is a crois's sectional view of my tube hold'er taken Online 3 3 ofiFig 1; I I

Fig.-- 4 is similar to Fig-.-1 butshows'dhe' pulling -ta'p completely insertedinto the injector tube, and with the tube holder removed and-the" driving tool inserted the tube; I Fig. 5 is: an' end view' 'o'f the' tap lo'oliin'g at the fp'ildt end face thereof; v v

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view-"takeri on line of Fig.g.-5;'-ancl"- Fig, 7 is; anend viewsnovving that-end'offtlietap adapted tobe engaged by atap dr iving chuck: I

Shown in Figs: 1, 2 arid 4; are injector 'tubes 1 0 an The tubes extend across r threugh'a coolant passage.

4 Way 16 in the head, withitlie upper eiid of the tubeiollfi tween the holder and the tube.

over as at 18 to seat against a sealing ring 20 disposed between the rolled-over portion of the tube and the cylinder head. The lower end of the tube is provided with atube tip 22 which is flared over as at 24 in Figs. 1 and 4 to seat against a bevel 26 formed at the mouth of the aperture in the cylinder head, through which the tube tip extends. In Fig. 2 the injector tube shown is one which has just been installed in the head but which, for some reason, is defectively installed and it is desired to remove such tube from the cylinder head. The tube tip has not been flared over.

To remove the injector tube shown in Figs. 1, 2 and lower end of the holder is shaped as shown at 44 to provide a driving face against which the driving tool is operated in forcing the holder into the tube.

The tube-pulling tap 30 is squared as at 46 at its upper end to provide a surface which may be gripped by a tapdriving chuck in order to thread the tap into the tube. Below the chuck-engaging end of the tap, the tap exhibits four flutes 48. Each flute is shaped along the surface of its radial extremity to exhibit cutting teeth 50. At least 4 from the cylinder head a tube-holder 23 is driven into the injector tube to grip the tube tip between the holder and the cylinder head, thereby preventing rotation of the tube within the cylinder head. A tubepulling tap 30 is then threaded into the other end of the tube until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 4.

the rod is driven against the tap and the tap thereby forced out of the cylinder head, drawing with it the injector tube. The injector tubes are formed of copper or some other malleable metal, and therefore, as the tap is driven out of the head, the flared-over portion 24 of the tube tip is deformed so that it will pass through the opening 36 in'the cylinder head through which the tube tip extends.

The holder or wedge 28 is shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is provided with a slender tapering body portion 38 which tapered portion is shaped to exhibit a plurality of longitudinally extending lands, flutes or teeth 40, shown in cross section in Fig. 3. Each land is provided with a sharp arris as shown in Fig. 3 so that the land will cut or dig into the metal of the tube tip as the holder is driven thereinto. As the holder is driven into the tube tip, the wall of the tip throughout the longitudinal dimension thereof is forced outwardly against the wall of the aperture 36 in the cylinder head. Those portions of the tube tip that are forced against the cylinder head complement the shape of the holder. In other words the wall of the tube tip is deformed to exhibit serrations which are urged against the cylinder head and prevent the rotation of the tube in the head.

The taper of the holder is such that the wall of the tube tip from the lower end of the tip to the opposite end adjacent the body of the tube, is engaged by the teeth of the holder, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Because the teeth 40 of the holder are equilaterally shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 3, the teeth dig into the wall of the tip and are embedded therein. When torque is applied to the tube, and the holder is held against the torque applied to the tube, the sides of the teeth 40 will prevent rotation of the tube relative to holder.

Rearwardly of the tapered body portion 38, the tube holder is provided with a flatted portion whose opposite faces are indicated as 42. Such flatted portion is adapted to be gripped by a wrench to further aid in the prevention of rotation of the tube. As the arrises of flutes 40 bite into the metalfof the tube tip, the holder is anchored in the tube tip. Each flute so embedded in the metal of the tube tip prevents relative rotation be- Therefore, when the holder, or wedge, is driven into the tube tip and a Wrench 'is applied to the flatted portion to prevent rotation of should occur, then a wrench may be applied to the holder and rotation of the tube prevented in this manner. The

two of the teeth 52 and 54 are of smaller diameter than the remaining teeth, and act as a lead to facilitate starting the tap in the tube. Immediately below the teeth the flutes are cut away as at 56. Such cut-away portions 56 terminate in radially extending shoulders 60. The shoulders form the upper edge of four pilot flutes 62. Such pilot flutes are sharpened along their leading edge as at' 62 and the cutting edge of the teeth 50 of the flutes 48. The trailing edge of the flutes 48 is relieved as at 68 to reduce the amount of force required to turn the tap into the tube. To effect such relief of the flutes 48, the trailing edge of the cutting teeth is shaved away as shown at 68 in Fig. 5.

The lower end face of the tap is recessed as at 70 to provide a tap-driving rod guide. The tap-driving rod 32 is provided with a nose portion 72 as shown in Fig. 4, which is adapted to fit within the complementary recess 70 in the tap. With the provision of the recess 70, when the nose of the tap is seated within the recess, there is no danger of the nose of the rod skidding across the end face of the tap and becoming wedged between the flutes of the tap and the wall of the tube during the driving of the tap out of the head.

After the holder has been driven into the tube tip and the tube is held stationary in the head, the tap is threaded into the tube until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter the holder is removed from the tube tip by tapping it perpendicular to its axis. After the holder has been removed the driving rod 32 is inserted into the tube through the tip and the nose of the rod is seated in the guide recess 70. A hammer such as 34 is then used by the mechanic to drive the rod upwardly against the tap and thereby force the tap out of the cylinder head drawingwith it the tube.

The tube shown in Fig. 2, as mentioned hereinabove, has, for some reason, been found unsuited for continued .installation operations, such as flaring over the tube tip and reaming out the tube to receive the injector device.

It is therefore desirable to remove the tube. The tubes shown in Figs. 1 and 4 were reamed out during their installation to receive the injector device so that the inside diameter of the tubes in Figs. 1 and 4 is somewhat greater than the inside diameter of the tube 12 in Fig. 2. Such difference in the inside diameter of the tubes will prevent the tap from being received within tube 12 which has not been previously reamed. For this reason the pilot flutes 52 are sharpened along their leading edges to rearn'away the wall of the tube so that it approaches an inside diameter equivalent to the inside diameter of the tubes shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In. Fig.2 it will be noted that the inside diameter of the tube below the end of the tap is somewhat less than the inside diameter above the tap. The sharpened leading edges of the flutes 62 have cut away the inside of the tube upon the rotation of the tap. Such cutting away or reaming of the inside of the tube permits the lead threads 52 and 54 of the'tap to biteinto an begin threading into the tube.

Besides furnishing a means for reaming out the inside ofa newtube which is vdefectively installed, the pliot portion also serves to guide'a nd axially alignthe tap with pee" ru -M the axis of the tube. The walls of the tube are relatively thin'and therefore it is necessary to provide some means for carefully guiding the tap thereinto, otherwise the threads of the tap are apt to cut into the cylinder head. The diameterof the threads is such that they will cut through substantially one-half of the thickness of the wall of the tube.

What I claim is:

1. That process of removing an injector tube from the cylinder head of an engine, comprising: inserting a tube-gripping member into the tube tip and gripping the tube between the member and the cylinder head holding the tube-gripping member against rotation and concurrently threading a tap into the opposite end of the tube, releasing the gripping action of the gripping member, and thereafter urging the tap out of the head drawing the tube with it.

2. That process of removing an injector tube from the cylinder head of an engine, comprising: driving a wedgelike member into the injector tube tip to grippingly engage the member with the tube tip to prevent relative rotation between thev member and the injector tube, holding the wedge-like member against rotation and concurrently threading a tap member into the opposite end of the tube, removing the wedge-like member from the tube tip, and driving through the tube tip against the tap to force; the tap and the tube out of the head.

3. That process of removing an injector tube from the cylinder head of an engine comprising: driving a longitudinally fluted wedge into the injector tube tip to force the flutes into the metal of the tube tip and anchor the 6 wedge in the tube tip, holding the wedge to prevent rotation thereof, threading a tap member into the opposite end of the tube, removing the wedge from the tube tip, and driving through the tube tip against the tap to force the tap and the tube out of the cylinder head.

4. That process of removing an injector tube from the cylinder head of an engine comprising: driving a wedge into the injector tube tip to jam the wall of the tip against the cylinder head and prevent rotation of the tip, threading a tap member into the opposite end of the tube, removing the wedge from the tube tip, inserting a tap-driving rod through the tube tip and bringing the nose of the rod into engagement with the end face of the tap within the tube, and thereafter driving against the rod to force the tap out of the cylinder head drawing the tube with it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 678,814 Riggs July 16, 1901 1,133,014 Faessler Mar. 23, 1915 1,286,897 Albertson Dec. 10, 1918 1,304,109 Simon May 20, 1919 1,382,835 Johnson June 28, 1922 1,478,414 Wells Dec. 25, 1923 1,688,460 Fowler Oct. 23, 1928 2,306,760 Shaw Dec. 29, 1942 2,330,242 Romero Sept. 28, 1943 2,559,210 Bradley July 3, 1951 2,731,714 Dudley Ian. 24, 1956 

